azalea not doing well

[65muzzy]

I have a non flowering azalea that Ipicked up about 2 years ago I gave it a trim early January this year and about 2 weeks latter I went away for 5 days. I got a friend to water my bonsai while I was away. I also moved the azalea to a shaded area. When I got back I noticed that the azalea had some branches which seem to be burned. I didn't take much noticed but as of today the drying out, burning of the leaves is continuing to spread across to the rest of the tree. I'm afraid that this will kill my bonsai.
Any thoughts as what could be the cause or a remedy to fix the problem.

[squizzy]

Hi Muzzy,

Photos will always get you better results for answers. So many reasons that this could happen.

Any chance you can show us the problem?

Cheers

Squizz

[65muzzy]

I will try and uploax pics tomorrow.

[kcpoole]

Give the pot a soak in Water and Seasol for a few hours, Cut back past all dead foliage and branches, put back on the bench hand hope. If it still alive it will back shoot.

Ken

[Ray M]

Hi 65muzzy,
If Azaleas dry out that can be fatal. Ken's suggestion is spot on. The other thing to remember with Azaleas is to always seal the cuts.

Regards Ray

[65muzzy]

I tried to attach some photos but I'm getting a message "The image file you tried to attach is not valid" Is there somthing that I'm doing wrong?

[Elmar]

Wrong file type (probably tiff). - change to JPEG - I had this for a while!


Cheers
EZ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[65muzzy]

Some shot showing prblem. Hope this helps find cause.

[squizzy]

For me I can't imagine why only one branch would be dying and the others quite healthy if it was from drying out? Azalea experts may be able to tell you more. If I was guessing from the pictures I would say it could be something effecting the damaged branch. Has it been accidentally bent backwards or snapped from someone walking by or perhaps falling of a table? To me it looks like only that branch is starving?

Thoughts anyone?

Cheers

Squizz

[lakepipes]

Azaleas have a direct relation from the roots to the branching.
I'm not saying this is the case but its worth lifting the tree from the pot and checking the roots for curl grubs.
If they are attacking a set of roots on that side of the tree it is possible just to lose one branch.
Besides it will not hurt to check.

If there are grubs, sitting the pot in water or seasol as suggested will also drown the little buggers.

Mike

[65muzzy]

I have already checked for grubs. Do they occupy the outside or do you have to clean off some soil to check.

[deepeetee]

Im thinking grubs initially.

However, any chance when you water, do you pour the water over this branch to get to the pot/soil underneath?

I have a Saotome in the ground that has a section in the middle of the crown that looked "somewhat" similar.
I accidentally watered from above one morning when rushing to leave for the shop, and in due course the leaves burnt.
This particular branch looks a little more ill, but the dying off of those leaves could possibly just be leaf burn (possibility only)

Dave

[longd_au]

I am following this post with interest as I've lost two small Azalea starters this year.
I find that once they are burnt from too much hot sun/dry air and leafs slowly turn brown, it is almost irreversible.
I've moved one into the shade trying to not disturb the root and it still didn't make it. At the time of moving, the branches were still moist inside.

I did have some success with one where I cut the branches back down and sealed with cutting paste.
I find Azaleas a little confusing and it has something to do with the various hybrids. Some seem to take extreme weather better than others.

I also find more consistency when keeping them all under shade with 1-2 hrs of morning sun. They are just not designed for continuous full sun over days.

[Ray M]

I have already checked for grubs. Do they occupy the outside or do you have to clean off some soil to check.

Hi 65muzzy,
Curl Grubs can be right up inside the root ball. I have heard of a number of cases where people have placed the pot in a tube of water and still not killed them. If they have a little pocket where the water doesn't penetrate they will survive. I have been adding Zeolite to my mix for some years now. Since doing so I can't recall any Curl Grubs in those pots. Zeolite is very sharp and the grubs don't like it.

Regards Ray

[kcpoole]

I have an azalea in the ground that has done the same thing.
1 branch has did back completely leaving the rest of the tree healthy. It has Not been Cut, pruned mistreated at all but just turned up it branch in the heat

Ken